Steel shelving construction



Sept. 24, 1963 J. E. FOHN STEEL sHELvING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 6,1961 United States Patent 3,104,627 STEEL SHELVING CONSTRUCTIGN Jack E.Fohn, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Aurora Steel Products Company, Aurora,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,467 6Claims. (Cl. 10S- 157) The present invention relates to a steel shelvingconstruction, and more particularly to such a construction of inherentlygreater strength and rigidity than conventional shelving.

The load-bearing capacity of steel shelving depends in general upon thegauge or thickness of the material employed therefor and the manner ofVsupporting the shelves from the vertical support members. Means ofseveral different types have been developed and are commonly employed tofasten the corners of the shelves to the vertical suppor-ts or uprightsfor support thereby, such as bolts and nuts, clips, pins, and the like.Such fastening means accomplish their pur-pose effectively, but areadequate only for average shelf loads, since they provide support forthe shelves only at the corners. In order to provide for the support ofheavy loads, it has been necessary in the past to weld or otherwisesecure reenforcements such as angle or channel members to the lower sideof the shelves, or to the inside of the shelf flanges or corners. Suchreenforcement prevents sagging or collapse of the shelves under designedload, but is expensive, and is apt to be wasteful in requiring either arelatively large number of reenforced shelf members designed for onlyslightly differing loads, or frequent use of shelves desi-gned for muchheavier loads than they are actually called upon to support. Inaddition, despite lthe relativelyv great weight of material employed togive the desired strength to the shelves, such prior reenforced shelfconstructions do not provide .the rigidity and stability required inshelving, so that sway braces must be employed in the 'backs and ends ofthe shelving. The strengthening of shelves 'by means of integral iiangesof different forms has been employed, but for practical reasons iseffective only -within aV definite limit ordinarily well below thatachieved by the welding or sinn'lar addition to shelves of separatereenforcing members. AVarious other means for imparting the desiredstrength -to shelves have been proposed, but have achieved at .best onlylimited acceptance because of -various defects and drawbacks.

The present invention provides means for reenforcernent ofsteelshelves'by which avery strong construction adapted to support very heavyloads is afforded. Structure according to the invention, furthermore, sorigidiiies the shelving in which it isincorporated that no sway bracesare required, a stable, substantially nonf swaying construction beingachieved without the use of the same. Moreimportant, however, is thefact that by the invention each individual shelf is separately andselectively adjustable to support loads varying t a maximurn yfor whichthe shelf construction is designed, so that material is not wasted inproviding a shelf which is much stronger than is necessary to supportaparticular load, yet the Shel-.f may be strengthened and reenforced soas'to support a maximum load when desired. In addition, the inventionpermits ofthe reenforcement of a shelf only at the area or areas atwhich concentration of load occurs, so that a minimum of reenforcementwill achieve a maxi-mum of support. The rigidiiication of shelvingincorporating the invention is achieved by the fact that the shelfconstruction itself serves to ibrace the shelving both from side to sideand from front toback. The strengthening of the shelf by therenforcement structure and the adjustability thereof as to both degreeand concentration of load'do not require any increase in ICC the weightor strength of the shelf itself, and on the contrary allow a minimumthickness or 'gauge of material lto be employed for lthe shelf proper.Another advantage afforded by the structure of this invention is thefact that the parts are readily assembled `and disassembled withoutrequiring any securing means to be applied, removed, or adjusted, theparts being simply and easily interlocked to 'be held securely indesired relation and being just as readily separated when desired.'I'.he numerous advantages of the invention are achieved Without acorrespond- `ing increase in cost.

It is an important object of the invention` to provide a reenforcedshelf construction particularly for steel shelving which is very quicklyand easily assembled and disassembled merely by placing the severalparts in posi-k tion or removing them.

llt is another object of the invention to provide a reenforced shelfconstruction particularly for steel shelving which is adjustable topermit support by each shelf of a ywide range of loads up to a maximum.

Another object is the provision of a reenforced shelf construction inwhich the reenforcement is adjustable in accordance with the center ofgravity ofthe load supported by a particular shelf.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reenforced shelfconstruction for steel shelving or the like -which serves so to rigidifythe shelving as to eliminate need for sway braces.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a reenforced shelfconstruction for steel shelving or the like 'which provides maximumload-supporting strength while permitting use of minimum-strengthmaterial for the shelff.

A fur-ther object is the provision of a reenforced shelf constructionwhich. is extremely,` strong when maximum reenforcement is employed, andwhich may be economically used to support a small load when minimumreenforcement is employed.

It is yalso an object of the invention to provide a reenforced shelfconstruction for steel shelving'or the like which is simple andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which is readily assembledyand disassembled in an arrangement adjustable selectively as regardsthe several shelves in accordance with the individual loads to besupported by each. Y `Other and lfurther objects, advantages, andfeatures of the invention will be apparent to'those skilled in the art'the accompanying drawings,rin which: p

FIG. l is a perspective view of a steel shelving assem- -blyincorporating the present invention, with Va portion broken away forclearness; j Y

FIG. 2' is an enlarged ver-tical sectional View take substantially asindicatedl by the lineA 2'2 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 isla Yhorizontal sectionalview taken substantially as indicated by the line 3 3 in lFIG. 2; and

f vil-"IG, 4 is a vertical sectional view taken 'substantially asindicated by the' line 4-'4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, lthere isshown a steel shelving assemblygenerally designated .10, comprising a plurality of shelving uni-ts eachprovided by four vertical support members or uprights 11 arranged todene in plan a rectangle corresponding tothe 'size and shape lof the`shelves supported by the uprights, each shelving unit also including atleast one shelf connected to and supported by'theuprights. 'Each uprightl11 is substantially of Teshape in cross section, having a stern portion12` with a cross portion 13 presenting web portions projecting to bothsides Vthereof at substantially right angles to the stem portion whichare formed with keyhole slots 23 in vertically spaced relationtherealong. The two'uprights 1-1 at the rearof Ieach unit are arranged'with the from the following description, taken in conjunction `withcross member 13 of each in substantially the same vertical plane, andthe two uprights at the front of the unit are similarly arranged, thepair of uprights at each end of the unit being arranged with the stemportions thereof extending toward each other, las is clearly shown inthe drawings. lFor convenience in handling, the uprights of each endpair may be connected together bytop, bottom, and if desired,intermediate connectors 14 extending between and secured to the stemportions 12. thereof.

Each shelf, generally designated 15, employed in the shelvingconstruction according to the invention comprises a pair of elongatedshelf support members :16 arranged parallel to each other, eachextending horizontally with one supported by the rtwo rear and the otherby the two front uprights of the shelving unit. Each support member 16is of generally channel cross section, as best shown in FIG. 4, definedby a flange 17, a web portion 13 extending at substantially right anglesto the liange 17, and a flange 19 substantially perpendicular to the web18. Bach member 16 has substantially flat end portions 2t? extendingfrom and lying in the planeof the wider or higher llange 17. Each endportion 26 has projecting therefrom a pair of headed studs 21 spacedapart in the direction of the width of flange 17. The studs extendoppositely relative to the web 1S, and are adapted to engage invertically spaced keyhole slots 23 formed in the web portions of theuprights 11, with the end portions Ztl lying against the slottedportions of the uprights. As best seen from FIG. 4, the members 16 whenin position are arranged with the narrow or low flanges 19 thereof beingdisposed inwardly or closer together than they high flanges l17. Thevertically spaced points of engagement between the members '16 and theuprights 11 provided by the studs 2.1 when disposed in the slots 23result in the members 16 `holding and bracing the uprights engagedthereby against tilting relative to each other in the vertical planethereof, and thus eliminatev the need for any sway braces between therear upriglllts. The end portions 2t) are preferably of greater verticalextent than the high flange 17, to allow `adequate verticalspacingbetween the studs. appreciated that other means than the studsand slots disclosed may be employed to secure the members 16 to theassociated uprights, while retaining the bracing advantage of thespecific structure disclosed.

IReenforcement or brace members -generally designated 25 are providedfor support by the shelf support members 16, each brace member 25extending transversely between the pair of members 16 provided for eachshelf. Each brace member is of inverted channel section, as best shownin FIG. 2, defined by a web 26 of suitable width from the longitudinaledges of which depend flanges 27. Spaced from each end of each flange 27is a slot 28 extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof for a heightcorresponding to the height of the low frange 19 of the member 16. Theslots 2S are provided forv the reception of the low ilanges 19 of thepair of parallel members 16 by which the brace member 25 is supported,the slots being spaced from the respective ends of the flanges 27 adistance such that the end edges of the flanges and of the web 26 abutagainst the inner face of the high flange 17 of the adjacent member 16,as best shown in FIG. 4. The height of the anges 27 is such that the endportions thereof between the slots 23 and the end edges thereof engageon the Webs 18 of the members `16, and the upper surface `of the web 26is disposed substantially llush with the upper edges ofthe members 16,or high flanges 1-7, as also best shown in FIG. 4. By this arrangement,the brace members 25 serve to brace and rigidify :the shelvingconstruction against sway in a plane transverse of theY members 16, byreason of the labutting relationship between the end edges of themembers 25 with the outer and higher ilanges y17 of the members 16. Itwill of .course be obvious that the brace members 25 are also supportedby the members 16 to perform their primary function of providing astrong shelf construction capable of-supporting heavy loads.

The shelf construction is completed by a shelf sheet Si) which isdisposed Voverlying'the upper edges of the support members 16 and theupper'surfaces of the webs 26 `of the brace members 25, as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, to provide a continuous supporting surface for the shelf.Along its forward and rear edges, the sheet 30V is formed with dependingflanges 31 Which engage close-.I`

ly against the outer faces of the'high llanges 17 of the support members16, and are of substantially the same height so as to substantiallyconceal the'members 16.

The sheet 30V may also be provided with similar endV flanges 32depending vfrom the end edges thereof ass j i shown in FIGS. l, 2, Vand4. The anges 31 are cut away adjacent their ends, as indicatedatBS'QFlG. 3),

in order -to accommodate the web portions of the cross member-s 13 ofthe uprights 11. 'I'he flanges '31,.and also the flanges 32 if they areprovided, hold the shelf sheet 30 against shifting laterally on themembers 16 and` suppont members 16, or the members 16 to the. upf.`

rights. Assembly of the parts is very quickly and .easily accomplishedsimply. by engaging the studs 21 at the op-j, posite end of each member16 with the corresponding keyhole slots 23 in the uprights y11,disposing one or more of the brace members 25 to engage between and i besupported by the two members 16 in the manner here.-

` inabove described, and then merely placing the shelf sheet It will be30 overthe members 16 and 25. Disassembly is justas simple, involvingmerely performing the reverse of the assembly steps just described. Oneof the shelf units or assemblies 15 may be employed as the top of theshelv-l ing unit, but lif noload is to be carried by the shelving unittop surface, the brace members 25 may be omitted and the shelf sheet 3ftsupported merely on the horizontalunits 16. Again, if desired,otherfsupport means t may be employed to hold .the top shelf sheet 30instead of the members 16, if desired. Similarly, a shelf u nit 1S orparts thereof may be used to provide a base for a Of course, a baseand/or top for each means. The ease of assembling and disassembling theshelf sheet with and from the means by which it is sup-l portedfacilitates adjustment of the shelf construction to varying loads. Thus,when the shelf is to be employed for minimum load, the shelf sheet mayreadily be liftedfrom the assembly and any brace members 2-5 removedfrom therebeneath, the sheet ithen being replaced to be supported onlyby the members 16. It will be obvious that the channel cross section ofthe support members,V

with the flanges disposed vertically to develop the full strength,provides a relatively light structure of ample strength for supportingthe load on the thin shelf sheet without any reenforcement or bracemembers. 'When a greater load up to the maximum for which the shelfconstruction is designed is to be supported bythe shelf, the` i shelfsheet 36 is removed from the assembly and a number Y of brace members 2Sapplied on the support members 16 suicient to provide the necessarystrength for supportof such load by the shelf assembly, with the shelfsheet thenv being replaced. Similarly, the shelf sheet may be raised inorder to allow one or more of thebracelmembers 25 to be shifted orapplied to a particular location longitudinally of the support members16 when there is a concentration of load-on the shelf at sucha locationrather than a uniform load distribution over the entire shelf area. Itwill be appreciated that the members 25 may be slid along the members116, or moved downwardly thereunto for engagement therewith, as may bemost convenient in providing for such positional adjustment of the bracemembers. For many types of articles or materials, the sheet 30 may bedispensed with, if desired, and the support members -16 used with one ormore brace members 25 appropriately located therealong to support theload.

The horizontal support members |16 and the brace members 25 in ellectprovide an undercarriage or supporting assembly for the shelf sheet, andby reason of the strength imparted to the shelf construction by sucharrangement the shelf sheet may be of relatively thin material. Thesupport members 16', which are .the basic load-carrying members of theshelf assembly, are made of relatively -thick or heavy-gauge materialcorresponding to the maximum designed load. The brace members 25, whichprovide major supporting areas for the sheet 30, are formed of materialof a gauge intermediate that of the sheet 30 and the support members 16.The invention thus allows utilization of `the minimum weight andthickness of material affording the necessary strength to accomplish thepurpose of the shelf construction, namely the support of maximumexpected load without sagging or danger of collapse, while allowing thestructure to be lightened by removal of parts when less than the maximumload is to be supported. IIt is to be understood, of course, that therelative thickness of the material of the sheet 30, brace members 25,and horizontal support members 16 as shown in .the drawings isindicative and illustrative only, and that the differences in thicknessbetween these parts may be in any of various proportions. Similarly, inappropriate circumstances the 'shelf sheet, brace members, and supportmembers may all be of the same thickness, or the parts shown as formedof thinner material than certain of the others may instead be formed ofthicker material, although the economy achieved by the disclosedrelative thicknesses is of course sacrilced in such case.

It will be understood that -the disclosed embodiment of the invention isexemplary and illustrative, and that many changes and modifications inthe specific structure may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention belimited otherwise than as required by the appended claims.

II claim:

1. A shelf construction comprising a pair of elongated shelf supportmembers disposed in parallel substantially horizontal relation each ofchannel cross section defined by a horizontally extending web portionand a pair `of flanges of unequal height projecting upwardly from saidweb portion and each having substantially at end portions in the planeof said higher flange adapted for support thereof in said relation, saidsupport members being arranged with the higher flanges outward, at leastone brace member of inverted channel section disposed transversely ofsaid support members and supported thereon with its web horizontallydisposed in ythe plane of the upper edges of the higher flanges of thesupport members, each `said brace member having slots in the dependingllanges thereof receiving the shorter flanges of the support memberstherein and defining end portions of said depending flanges having loweredges resting on said support member web portions and end edges abuttingsaid higher flanges, and a shelf sheet disposed over and supported bysaid support and brace members, said sheet having flanges dependingalongside the support member flanges and of a height substantially toconceal the support member lian-ges.

2. A shelf construction substantially as defined in claim 1, in whichthe support members are of relatively heavy gauge metal, the shelf sheetis of relatively light gauge metal, and each brace member is of metal ofgauge intermediate that of the support members and sheet.

3. A shelf construction comprising a pair of elongated shelf supportmembers disposed lin parallel substantially horizontal relation eachhaving end portions adapted for support thereof in said relation andalso having between said end portions a generally channel-shaped crosssection defined by a horizontally extending web portion and a pair ofilanges of unequal height projecting upwardly from said web portion,said support members being arranged with fthe higher llanges thereofspaced apart farther than the lower flanges, at least one brace memberof inverted channel section disposed transversely of said supportmembers and supported thereon with its web horizontally disposed in theplane of the upper edges of the higher ilanges of the support members,each said brace member having slots in the depending flanges thereofreceiving the shorter flanges of the support members therein anddefining end portions of said depending llanges having lower edgesresting on said support member web portions and end edges abutting saidhigher support member llanges, and a shelf sheet disposed over andsupported by said support and brace members, said sheet havin-g ilangesdepending alongside the support member flanges and of a heightsubstantially to conceal the support member flanges.

4. A shelving assembly comprising four vertically extendingrect-angularly arranged uprights, a plair of elongated shelf supportsdisposed in parallel horizontal relavtion each having a generallychannel cross section with the web extending horizontally and theflanges projecting vertically upwardly therefrom to dillerent heights,the higher ilanges of the supports being disposed outwardly of therespective shorter llanges, each support also having end portions theplane of the higher flange, cooper-able means on said end portions and apair of uprights providing vertically spaced points of engagementbetween the support and each upright of said pair, a brace member ofinverted channel section of a depth substantially equal to the verticalextent of said higher ilanges of the supports above the support webs andhaving upwardly extending slots in the `depending flanges thereof spacedfrom the ends -a distance substantially equalling the interior Width ofthe supports and of a height and width not less than the height andthickness of the shorter flanges of :the supports, said brace beingdisposed transversely on the supports with said slots receiving saidshorter flanges of the supports to dispose the end edges of the bracellanges abutting the higher support flanges and engage Ithe end portionsof the lower edges of the brace flanges on said support webs a-nd todispose the brace web substantially in the horizontal plane of the upperedges of the higher flanges, and a sheet overlying the supports andbrace between the uprights to provide a supporting shelf surface andhaving depending edge flanges substantially concealing the supports andengaging therewith to hold the sheet against movement transversely ofthe supports. f

5. A shelving assembly substantially as defined in claim 4, in which thesupports are of relatively heavygauge metal, the sheet is of relativelylight-gauge metal, and the brace is of intermediate-gauge metal.

6. A shelving assembly comprising vfour vertically extending.rectangularly arranged uprights, a pair of elongated `shelf `supportsdisposed in parallel horizontal relation each extending between andsupportedly engaged at its ends with a pair of said uprights, each ofsaid supports having between its ends a generally channel cross sectionwith the web extending horizontally and the flanges projectingvertically upwardly therefrom to different Iheights, the higher flangesof the supports being disposed outwardly of the respective shorterilanges, a brace member of Iinverted channel section of la depthsubstantially equal to the vertical extent of said higher flanges 7 ofthe supports :above the support webs and having up- Wardly extendingslots in. the depending flanges thereof spaced from the ends a distancesubstantially equal to the interior Width of the supports and lof aheight and Width not less than the height `and thickness of the shorterflanges of the supports, said brace member being disposed transverselyon the supports with said slots receiving said shorter anges of thesupports to engage the end portions of the lower edges of the bracemember ilanges on said support webs, and the end edges of the brace mem#ber flanges in abutting relation `against the higher flanges of thesupports and .to dispose `the brace web substantially in the horizontalplane of the upper edges of the higher support flanges, and a sheetoverlying the supports and brace member between the uprights to providea supporting shelf surface and having depending edge portions engagingWith the supports to hold the sheet against movement transverselythereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l1,062,759V Beecher May 27, 1913 1,213,394 Vance Ian. 23, 1917 1,366,743OConnor Ian. 25, 1921 2,264,120 MacDonald Nov. 25, 1941 '2,815,139Franks Dec. 3, 1957 2,992,744 Fehn July 18, 1961

6. A SHELVING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FOUR VERTICALLY EXTENDINGRECTANGULARLY ARRANGED UPRIGHTS, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SHELF SUPPORTSDISPOSED IN PARALLEL HORIZONTAL RELATION EACH EXTENDING BETWEEN ANDSUPPORTEDLY ENGAGED AT ITS ENDS WITH A PAIR OF SAID UPRIGHTS, EACH OFSAID SUPPORTS HAVING BETWEEN ITS ENDS A GENERALLY CHANNEL CROSS SECTIONWITH THE WEB EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AND THE FLANGES PROJECTINGVERTICALLY UPWARDLY THEREFROM TO DIFFERENT HEIGHTS, THE HIGHER FLANGESOF THE SUPPORTS BEING DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF THE RESPECTIVE SHORTERFLANGES, A BRACE MEMBER OF INVERTED CHANNEL SECTION OF A DEPTHSUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE VERTICAL EXTENT OF SAID HIGHER FLANGES OF THESUPPORTS ABOVE THE SUPPORT WEBS AND HAVING UPWARDLY EXTENDING SLOTS INTHE DEPENDING FLANGES THEREOF SPACED FROM THE ENDS A DISTANCESUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE INTERIOR WIDTH OF THE SUPPORTS AND OF AHEIGHT AND WIDTH NOT LESS THAN THE HEIGHT AND THICKNESS OF THE SHORTERFLANGES OF THE SUPPORTS, SAID BRACE MEMBER BEING DISPOSED TRANSVERSELYON THE SUPPORTS WITH SAID SLOTS RECEIVING SAID SHORTER FLANGES OF THESUPPORTS TO ENGAGE THE END PORTIONS OF THE LOWER EDGES OF THE BRACEMEMBER FLANGES ON SAID SUPPORT WEBS, AND THE END EDGES OF THE BRACEMEMBER FLANGES IN ABUTTING RELATION AGAINST THE HIGHER FLANGES OF THESUPPORTS AND TO DISPOSE THE BRACE WEB SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE HORIZONTALPLANE OF THE UPPER EDGES OF THE HIGHER SUPPORT FLANGES, AND A SHEETOVERLYING THE SUPPORTS AND BRACE MEMBER BETWEEN THE UPRIGHTS TO PROVIDEA SUPPORTING SHELF SURFACE AND HAVING DEPENDING EDGE PORTIONS ENGAGINGWITH THE SUPPORTS TO HOLD THE SHEET AGAINST MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELYTHEREOF.